November 2024
Photography // Laura Arick and submitted
This month, Zionsville Monthly is proud to feature on its cover Zionsville Police Department (ZPD) Lieutenant Elizabeth Frost, the highest-ranking female officer in the department’s history. As she celebrates 20 years of service with the Town of Zionsville, we honor Frost’s exceptional dedication and contributions to our community. Lieutenant Frost’s professionalism, leadership and deep knowledge have been pivotal in mentoring new officers and enhancing public safety.
Throughout her career, Frost has demonstrated excellence in various roles, including field training officer, patrol supervisor and school resource officer. Her achievements have earned her numerous accolades, such as the “2016 Chief’s Award of Excellence” and “2019 Zionsville Police Officer of the Year.” Lieutenant Frost’s compassion and commitment make her an outstanding role model both within the department and throughout the community.
A Family Tradition of Public Service
From an early age, Lieutenant Elizabeth Frost knew her calling was to serve as a police officer. By age ten, her dream was firmly in place and never wavered throughout her upbringing. Her inspiration came from her father, who dedicated 22 years to law enforcement as a police officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation in North Dakota.
Growing up, Frost was immersed in the realities of the profession, witnessing both its challenges and rewards through her father’s experiences. His commitment to public service left a profound impression on her, shaping her journey toward a career in law enforcement.
“Though police work isn’t always happy, I saw that the pros outweighed the cons when it came to the job,” Frost said. “My father loved to help people in need and would do anything he could to lend a hand. He is still like that to this day. One of my favorite mottos to live by was told by my dad when I became a police officer: ‘Treat others the way you want to be treated.’”
Frost’s mother hails from Indiana, and the family moved to Boone County when Frost was in fourth grade. She graduated from Western Boone Jr./Sr. High School.
“My parents continue to influence how I live my life both on and off duty,” Frost expressed. “My mother has been a speech pathologist for nearly 46 years and still works in the school system today. She has a huge heart and loves to help the children in the community. My parents have shown me how to work hard to never give up on my dreams.”
Blazing a Path for Future Female Police Officers
Frost is honored to be ZPD’s first full-time female officer who has completed the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) and become a full-fledged police officer for the department. Currently, ZPD has five female sworn police officers on its roster.
“There were around 200 in my ILEA class, and only four were females,” Frost shared. “When I was hired at ZPD, I started as a reserve [officer] for one year. I was 21 years old, and it was intimidating being the only female on patrol. I knew from the beginning I had mountains to climb and there were many challenges to overcome. A lot of it was inner confidence-related. I learned at a very young age that I had to buckle up and it really didn’t matter what other people thought of me… I was going to do this job to the best of my ability and not let anything stop me from doing what I wanted to do. Today, there are many more females in the field, and, perhaps, there are fewer challenges than when I first started my career in law enforcement.”
Frost added, “I’ve always been really big about setting goals for myself. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that I do better if I set goals to accomplish and work toward those goals. I enjoy learning, and even though I’ve been doing this for 20 years now, there’s so much more for me to learn, and I want to continue doing that. I think that’s for the betterment of not just myself, but my peers, the people I work for and the department as a whole.”
Frost’s trailblazing career with the ZPD has been marked by significant achievements and firsts. She was the first female officer assigned to the Hamilton/Boone County Drug Task Force (HBCDTF), where she served as an undercover detective for five years before returning to ZPD as a general detective. In 2020, Frost was promoted to sergeant and became a School Resource Officer at Zionsville Middle School, serving in that role for three years.
In 2024, Frost reached another milestone by becoming the first female lieutenant in the department’s history, taking a leadership role in the patrol division. A certified state firearms instructor in handgun, shotgun and rifle, Frost is one of only 13 female rifle instructors out of 1,286 certified in Indiana, according to the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
Looking ahead, Frost will further distinguish herself as the first female from ZPD to attend the prestigious FBI National Academy (FBINA) in 2025. The FBINA represents the top 1% of senior law enforcement leaders worldwide, solidifying Frost’s position as a groundbreaking leader in her field.
Serving the Zionsville Community
It speaks volumes about a community when a police officer begins and sustains their career within the same department and community. For Frost, Zionsville’s respect for public safety and its close-knit community have been key reasons she has remained committed to ZPD throughout her two-decade-plus career.
“I love that Zionsville has so many different community functions, and I think ZPD has gotten better at implementing ourselves into those [community] events,” Frost stated. “To me, a community is a group of people from different backgrounds and cultures that come together to share common goals and values, and that is Zionsville. It’s a wonderful community that cares about everyone in the community… that’s just wonderful. The support of our community has helped me evolve into the leader I am today. The community of Zionsville welcomed me with open arms many years ago, and because of that, I have met many wonderful people and friends.”
When asked what advice she would offer young women exploring potential career paths, whether in law enforcement or other fields, Frost said, “Just as I tell both of my daughters, never give up on yourself and never let anyone dim your brightness. Keep learning and never apologize for your success. Find your passion, pursue it and never look back.”
Awards and Accolades
• 2022 IMPD Leadership Academy Graduate
• 2020 Created REACH Program
• 2019 Officer of the Year.
• 2019 Unit Citation for Bennett homicide
• 2019 Unit Citation for Bond burglary investigation
• 2019 Unit Citation for Bermudez shooting investigation
• 2018 Scott homicide investigation resulted in arrest of an Indianapolis drug kingpin
• 2017 Unit Citation for Iris Lane burglary investigation
• 2016 Chiefs Award of Excellence for Clements homicide
• 2013 Unit Citation for Key Bank Burglary
